महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-1, chapter-11, verse-17

परित्राणं च भीतानां सर्पाणां ब्राह्मणादपि ।
तपोवीर्यबलोपेताद्वेदवेदाङ्गपारगात् ।
आस्तीकाद्द्विजमुख्याद्वै सर्पसत्रे द्विजोत्तम ॥१७॥

17. paritrāṇaṁ ca bhītānāṁ sarpāṇāṁ brāhmaṇādapi ,
tapovīryabalopetādvedavedāṅgapāragāt ,
āstīkāddvijamukhyādvai sarpasatre dvijottama.

17. paritrāṇam ca bhītānām sarpāṇām
brāhmaṇāt api | tapovīryabalopetāt
vedavedāṅgapāragāt | āstīkāt
dvijamukhyāt vai sarpasatre dvijottama

17. O best of twice-born, in the serpent sacrifice, protection for the frightened serpents was brought about by Āstīka himself, even though he was a Brāhmaṇa. He was the chief among the twice-born, endowed with ascetic power and strength, and a master of the Vedas and Vedāngas.

Words meanings summery:

• परित्राणम् (paritrāṇam) - the act of protecting or saving (protection, rescue)

• च (ca) - and (and, also)

• भीतानाम् (bhītānām) - of the frightened serpents (of the frightened ones)

• सर्पाणाम् (sarpāṇām) - of the serpents (of serpents, snakes)

• ब्राह्मणात् (brāhmaṇāt) - by a Brāhmaṇa (referring to Āstīka as the agent of protection) (from a Brāhmaṇa)

• अपि (api) - even though, despite being (emphasizing the preceding word 'brāhmaṇāt') (also, even, indeed)

• तपोवीर्यबलोपेतात् (tapovīryabalopetāt) - by one endowed with ascetic power and strength (referring to Āstīka) (from one endowed with ascetic power and strength)

• वेदवेदाङ्गपारगात् (vedavedāṅgapāragāt) - by one who has mastered the Vedas and Vedāngas (referring to Āstīka) (from one who has mastered the Vedas and Vedāngas)

• आस्तीकात् (āstīkāt) - by Āstīka (from Āstīka)

• द्विजमुख्यात् (dvijamukhyāt) - by the chief among the twice-born (referring to Āstīka) (from the chief of twice-born)

• वै (vai) - indeed (emphatic) (indeed, certainly)

• सर्पसत्रे (sarpasatre) - in the great serpent sacrifice (of Janamejaya) (in the serpent sacrifice)

• द्विजोत्तम (dvijottama) - O best of Brahmins (the person being addressed by the speaker) (O best of twice-born)

Words meanings and morphology

परित्राणम् (paritrāṇam) - the act of protecting or saving (protection, rescue)

(noun)

neuter, singular of paritrāṇa

paritrāṇa - protection, rescue, deliverance

action noun

from pari-trā (to protect)

Prefixes: pari+trā

Root: trā (class 2)

Note: Here functions as a nominal predicate implying 'was accomplished'.

च (ca) - and (and, also)

(indeclinable)

भीतानाम् (bhītānām) - of the frightened serpents (of the frightened ones)

(adjective)

Genitive, masculine, plural of bhīta

bhīta - frightened, afraid

past participle

from root bhī (to fear)

Root: bhī (class 3)

Note: Modifies 'sarpāṇām'.

सर्पाणाम् (sarpāṇām) - of the serpents (of serpents, snakes)

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, plural of sarpa

sarpa - serpent, snake

ब्राह्मणात् (brāhmaṇāt) - by a Brāhmaṇa (referring to Āstīka as the agent of protection) (from a Brāhmaṇa)

(noun)

Ablative, masculine, singular of brāhmaṇa

brāhmaṇa - Brahmin, one belonging to the priestly class

Note: Here, used to indicate the agent 'by a Brāhmaṇa' (Āstīka) rather than source of danger.

अपि (api) - even though, despite being (emphasizing the preceding word 'brāhmaṇāt') (also, even, indeed)

(indeclinable)

Note: Emphasizes that Āstīka, despite being a Brāhmaṇa (like those performing the sacrifice), provided protection.

तपोवीर्यबलोपेतात् (tapovīryabalopetāt) - by one endowed with ascetic power and strength (referring to Āstīka) (from one endowed with ascetic power and strength)

(adjective)

Ablative, masculine, singular of tapovīryabalopeta

tapovīryabalopeta - endowed with asceticism, valor, and strength

Compound type : bahuvrihi (tapas+vīrya+bala+upeta)

• tapas – asceticism, austerity, religious penance
  noun (neuter)
• vīrya – valor, heroism, power, strength
  noun (neuter)
• bala – strength, power, force
  noun (neuter)
• upeta – endowed with, possessed of, furnished with
  adjective
  past participle
  from upa-i (to go near, attain)
  Prefix: upa
  Root: i (class 2)

Note: Refers to Āstīka.

वेदवेदाङ्गपारगात् (vedavedāṅgapāragāt) - by one who has mastered the Vedas and Vedāngas (referring to Āstīka) (from one who has mastered the Vedas and Vedāngas)

(adjective)

Ablative, masculine, singular of vedavedāṅgapāraga

vedavedāṅgapāraga - one who has crossed to the other shore of (mastered) the Vedas and Vedāngas

Compound type : tatpurusha (veda+vedāṅga+pāraga)

• veda – Veda (sacred texts)
  noun (masculine)
• vedāṅga – Vedānga (auxiliary science of the Vedas)
  noun (neuter)
• pāraga – one who has reached the other shore, master, proficient
  adjective
  from pāra-ga (to go to the other side)
  Root: gam (class 1)

Note: Refers to Āstīka.

आस्तीकात् (āstīkāt) - by Āstīka (from Āstīka)

(noun)

Ablative, masculine, singular of āstīka

āstīka - Āstīka (proper name of a sage)

Note: Explicitly names the agent of protection.

द्विजमुख्यात् (dvijamukhyāt) - by the chief among the twice-born (referring to Āstīka) (from the chief of twice-born)

(adjective)

Ablative, masculine, singular of dvijamukhya

dvijamukhya - chief among the twice-born (Brahmins)

Compound type : tatpurusha (dvija+mukhya)

• dvija – twice-born (Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya; often specifically Brahmin)
  noun (masculine)
• mukhya – chief, principal, foremost
  adjective

Note: Refers to Āstīka.

वै (vai) - indeed (emphatic) (indeed, certainly)

(indeclinable)

सर्पसत्रे (sarpasatre) - in the great serpent sacrifice (of Janamejaya) (in the serpent sacrifice)

(noun)

Locative, neuter, singular of sarpasatra

sarpasatra - serpent sacrifice (a specific ritual)

Compound type : tatpurusha (sarpa+satra)

• sarpa – serpent, snake
  noun (masculine)
• satra – a large or continuous sacrifice
  noun (neuter)

द्विजोत्तम (dvijottama) - O best of Brahmins (the person being addressed by the speaker) (O best of twice-born)

(noun)

Vocative, masculine, singular of dvijottama

dvijottama - best among the twice-born

Compound type : tatpurusha (dvija+uttama)

• dvija – twice-born (Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya; often specifically Brahmin)
  noun (masculine)
• uttama – best, highest, supreme
  adjective